Olhão - Centro de Interpretaçao do Parque Natural da Ria Formosa. 1991 - architect Sérgio Infante (SIGERP)

Like a White Castle, this Centro de Interpretaçao do Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, together with the park headquarters, is located on a small hill hidden among the pine trees. The center offers information about nature in the Ria Formosa area.

When you enter the building you come into a large hall, where natural light is spread through glass skylights - in a stepped pyramid-shape structure. The rhythm of the continuous columns in the hall give you a classic feeling, as if you are entering a religious space.

The hall is the connection between the office spaces and the exhibition center with an auditorium, various exhibition spaces, a catering area (with outdoor terrace) and the stairs to the viewpoint in the white tower, where you can overlook he nature reserve up to the island of Armona.

The building has a 'structuralist’ frame in which it appears as if similar elements are linked together around larger spaces. The light enters through sleekly designed 'cobogos' whose earthy color creates a nice contrast in the white facades.

The architectural details have been applied with attention and the wooden cladding on the inside refers to the color scheme on the outside. Carefully integrated into the green environment in a contemporary design language.

The use of materials contrasts with the surroundings but naturally blends in and refers to the white city of Olhão which is only a little further away.

See the project in our PocketSights App - Olhão Tour: Monuments, Modernism & More